Fiber-cleaning machine.



A. PONS.

FIBER CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1906. 1,04 41 V Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J 'IIIIIIIIII.

A. PONS.

I FIBER CLEANING MACHINE... nrmoumn mum Emma, 1906.

1,046,641. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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1 2 1? Aid QRMW v mmewi'oz A. PO'NS.

FIBER CLEANING MAGHINB.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 16, 1906. 1,046,641 Fatented Dec. 10, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- al I y A. FONS, FIB-EIRVCLEANING MACHINE.

uruo'umn mum NOV. 16. 1906.

Patented Dec. 10,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Ma 1R) i lmmmw WW, wzi/ slightly modified form of the transfer INT UEFIQE.

ANGEL rows, or BUFFALO, new YORK.

risen-CLEANING MACHINE.

noaaea .f'o all whom it may-concern:

Beit known that I, ANGEL PoNs, a subject of the King of Spain, residing in the city of Buffalo, county of Erie, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiber-Cleaning Ma chines, of which the follo -ing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ma chine, parts being broken away to more clearly show its construction; Fig. 2 a rear end. view; 3 a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 a detail cross-sectional view of one of the platen segments; Figf l a plan view of the 7 forward platen segment; Fig. 5 a side elevation thereof; Fig. 5 a detail horizontal sectional view of' the overlapping portions of the carrier wheels; Fig. 5 a detail plan view of the transfer shoe; Fig. 6a detail sectional view 'on the line'VI-Vl of Fig. 1; Fig; 7 an enlarged detail side elevation, partly in section, of the transfer mechanism;

Figs. 8 and 9 respectively a plan and side 'e 'levation-"of the forward platen segment of the second carrier wheel; ig. 10 a detail sectional view showing the cleaning knives and the cleaning bed; and Fig. '11 a vertical sectional view taken on the line Figz 7; and Fig. 11 a sectional vi I wheel. My invention relates to machines for cleaning fibers of plants and more particularly to machines fo-rjremoving' the fleshy or" pulpy part of leaves e. (such as American aloe) from the ribs. and fibers thereof.

. The invention consists of certain improvecuts in such machines, the object beingto simplify and improve the construction thereof.

The'invention consists particularlyin vthe improvements in the construction of the type of machine shown in my application' for patent filed April 25, 1904, Serial #204678 (patented December 21, .1909, N o. lR-eferring; to the various parts illustrated intlie; drawings by reference characters, 1

designates a: suitablebase platform on which 'theapparatusis ountedg and 2 the f supporting-frame of the machine.

3 designates ar support H middle po'rtionspof the {leaves are fed edge wiseto the feed wheel a; This feed vwheel niay be';d riven in suitable manner, the

5n1eansshown being 'a belt 5,- and said wheel from which the;

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 16, 1906.

Patented Dec. 10,1912. 'Serial No. 343,654. i

is toothed or to engage the leaf to. move it to a carrier wheel 6. 1

Two carrier wheels (land 7 These wheels are vertically arranged inparallel planes, but are out of line witheach other; and are so placed that they'overlap, as shown in Fig. 1. These wheels with annular grooves in their peripheries are employed.

are formed serrated, or otherwise adapted andare internally gearedhas shown at=8 and i 9. In the forward part of the machine-is mounted a shaft 10 provided with. a belt or chain wheel 11 and witha gear 12 which meshes with the internal gearS. of the carrier wheel. 6 and by whichsaidqvheel is given a slow rotating movement in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

A shaft 13 is suitably mountedin the frame at the point where the carrier "wheels overlap and between being provided with gears-'11, and 15, one of which, 14, meshes with the internal gear of the carrier wheels 6; the other one meshing with the internal gear'9 of the carrier wheel said wheels, said shaft By this means the second carrier wheel will be driven by the first one and at the same speed, and the drivinggearing' will be practically inclosed by the carrier wheels. This is of great advantage in that said gears will be protected, kept-clean, and all out side or exposed shafting avoided, except, of course, the shaft at the forward endof the machine p Suitably mounted on theframe is a supporting bar "16 which is'so shaped in plan new. asto lie directlypver the-carrier; wheels, as, shown clearly in, Fig. "At the forward portion of the supporting bar di. rectly oventhe first carrierwheel 6 is secured a series of pressure devices or platens 17, 17?:

and 17 These devices or platensare curved on their curvature of the carrier wheel 6, 'and are longitudinally grooved toreceive't-he ribs on the carrier wheel, the shoes being also provided with ribs which fit within the grooves of the carrier by means, of bolts 18 which pass through under surfaces to'conform to the wheel. These'pressuredevices are connected to the. supporting bar ,said supporting bar and areprovidedwitl 'gi nuts 19 on theirupper ends by whichthei distance between; the pressure -d eYlCBS;01' f platens and the face ofthecarrlerwheelv may be regulated. Between the platensand the supporting barare arranged-pressure coil.-

springs 20, each supporting bolt being surrounded by a spring. The platens 17 and 17 are each provided with two supporting bolts and pressure springs; and these platens are hinged together at a point directly over the axis of the carrier wheel, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, and to each of these platens or platen segments one of the supporting bolts is connected at a point close to the pivot.

The object of providing the series of pressure platens and to yieldingly force them toward the carrier wheel is to permit leaves of varying thicknesses to be passed under said platens. It will be understood that the platens yield a varying degree depending upon the thickness of the leaves passing under them.

It is the general practice in the operation of machines of this character to crushthe fiber bearing leaves by means of rollers, and before they are passed into the machine. In this way all leaves operated upon are crushed to a substantially uniform thickness. The crushing rollers are adjusted from time to time to roperly operate upon leaves of different thickness. If, however,

the leaves vary in thickness, the platen, or

the series of pressure platens, because of its flexibility, will yield sufliciently to receive them. 1

To the forward end of the pressure platen 17 is secured two guide fingers 17. These fingers for a short distance forward of the pressureplatens, are in the same are or curve as the working face of the platen and are then curved upwardly on an arc concen trio with the feed wheel 4 and close to the smooth portion of the surface thereof between ,the serrated portions thereof, the

upper ends of said fingers being above the.

feed wheel on the forward side thereof. The object of these fingers is to direct the i-n-going leaf under the pressure platen l7 and between said platen and the feed wheel, and to prevent it beingcarried around by the serrated portion of said feed wheel. These fingers are arranged a suitable distance apart and are in a direct line with the ribs on the working face of the platen sec: tion.

At one side of the carrier wheel 6 is arranged a cleaning wheel 21, the axis of said wheel being parallel with the plane of the carrier wheel. This wheel is provided with a curved cleaning bed 22 by which the leaf is supported when being acted upon by the cleaning knives. This cleaning wheel. is so placed with respect to the carrier wheel that a vertical plane passing through the axis of the carrier wheel will pass through the transverse center of the cleaning wheel and perpendicular to the axisthereof. This will bring the middle of the cleaning knives directly opposite the joint between the platen sections or segments 17 and 17 R This is for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth On the shaft 23 of the cleaning wheel is se-' cured a belt wheel 24 by which said cleaning wheel may be driven.

- The platen segment 17 is hinged to the rear end of the segment 17 a and is yieldably held in position by means of a'spring and adjustable bolt.

Secured to the support 16, directly over the carrier wheel 7 is a series of pressure devices or platen segments 25 and- 25 which are yieldingly held by means of the ad ustable bolts 26 and the coil springs 27 surrounding the bolts and interposed between the support and the platens. These platen segments are hinged together at a point d rectly over the axis of the earner wheel 7. Two of the. supporting bolts 26 are connected to .each platen segment and one of said bolts is connected to each of said seg. ments near the hinge thereof, in a manner similar to the mounting of platen segments 17 and 17".

The hinged 'or pivotal joints between the platen segments are comparatively loose joints so that each segment may have a very slight vertical movement independent of the connected segment. This is accomplished by providing the segments with slightly enlarged bolt holes or very short vertical slots at their pivotal points.

The loose joints flexibility of the pressure device and permit of a nice adjustment of the sections through the two supporting bolts.

-On the opposite side of the supportfrom the first cleaning wheel is arranged a second cleaning wheel 27 the middle of the cleaning blades carried by said wheel being directly in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the carrier wheel '7 and the hinge between the platen segments 25 and 25 as shown clearly in .Fig. 3 of the drawings, and for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The periphery of the second carrier wheel and the under surface of the platen segmentsare grooved in the same manner as the carrier wheel 6 and its cooperating platen segments. The cleaning wheel 27 is provided with a belt wheel 27 by which it may be driven.

To transfer the leaves from the vfirst carrier wheel to the second carrier wheel I employ a transfer wheel 28. This wheel is supported in bearings 29 suspended from the supporting bar 16 by adjustable bolts 30, springs 31 being interposed between said bar and the bearing 2-9 so that by adjusting the nuts 32 on said bolts the position of the transfer wheel with respect to the carrier wheels may be varied. The transfer wheel is formed with an annular channel in its face to receive the hard rubber rings 28, and these rings are shaped on their peripheries to fit the periphery of the carrier wheel 7;

noed'eei and said transfer wheel is so adjusted that its periphery is brought into proper relation to the periphery of said vwheel 7. The

flanges 28 of'the transfer wheel are formed with grooves. in their peripheries to receive the rubberj'frictionrings 28. Betweenthe hard rubber rings 2S are formed deep, annular. grooyes 28 On the shaft of the transfer Wheel a chain Wheel 33 which is driven by a chain 84, said chain receiving its motion from any suitable source of power. j s 7 To the forward end of the pressure platen 25 is secured two forwardly extending stripper blades 25?. these bladesjfor a portion of their length follow the arc or curve of the under surface of the pressure platen 25, and then follow the curve of the transfer wheel to a point beyond the vertical center of said wheel. The grooves 28 of the transfer wheel are adapted to receive these stripper blades The object ofthese blades is to directthe fiber under the pressure platens 25 and to preyent, v said fiber being carried around by the transfer wheel. The extreme forward ends oft'he stripper blades lie witlr in the transfer wheel, as shown clearly in Wlll be no .dana

the drawings, so that there ger of the fiber being caught thereon. These stripper blades are secured to the platen segment 25 a suitable distanceapartand form practically COIlt-lnllfltlOnS of the ribs on the under side of lsaid pnessure platen. v v

Secured to the i -achine frame is a guide bar 35,' said bar extending rearwardly toward the transfer wheel, the rear endthereof forming a bifurcated segmental shoe which extends underthe transfer wheel in close proxiinity thereto. The rear ends of the members of the bifurcated partof said guide bar extend on opposite sides of the carrier wheel 7, and are connected to' the frame of themachine by a bar 36. The upper surfaces of the members of the bifurcatedpa'r inf the guide bar are grooved as shown in Fig. 11, to receive the friction rings of the'transfer wheel should said frictiona in-g's come contact with said bar. The object 'of this giude'bar 18 to direct the Cleaned fiber" under the transfer wheel and betwfeensaigit'lwheel and the concave part: of

said bar, from which point the transfer wh e-win nevesaid fibe dntectly into (2 11- t'act with the carrier wheel =7. The forward end of the'segment-QS extends close to the surface of the transfer wheel so that the fiber will ie delivered by saidwheel directly" the forward to the carrier wheel and under endof tlieplaten segments. p I j The second cleaning wheel is prov ded with-a, curved concentric'cleaning bed 39,

to'direbt -the uncleaned portion of said teeth-into said bed I employ-a curved star The lower edges of being released from the tionary guide 4.0 sec-uredto theside of the fraiiie and alon which the leafwill more to the bed.

To the frame of the nachin'efissecured a guide rod all whichis substantially concentrio with the :arrier wheel 6 and for a porparallel with the ender,

tion of its length is v surface of the platensegments 17,1? and 17 This guide rod is on the opposite side of the carrier wheel (Sfrom the cleaning wheel 21 and serves tol support the leaf a short distance from the carrier wheel. this means the leaf is prevented from beconiiing' entangled in the carrierwheel. This guide rod at its rear end is connectedto the guidedO which directs the le afto the curved bed of the second cleaning wheelr The transfer wheel is so located that the cleaned fibers will be delivered tolit and by it held against the guidebar 35.1)9f01'8flt is released from the platen?segments17 of the carrier wheel It will also be observed that thetransfer wheel will deliver the fiber to the carrier wheel 7 immediately upon its platen segments 1t and the carrier wheel-.6. 1

Each cleaning wheelis inounted in adjustable journal boxes 42 which are adapted to be moved by threadedrods 43. These rods are suitably mounted and carry at their outer endsworni gears with worms ,45 secured to the transverserod vThis rod maybe rotated by means. of ahandle 4'7. By this means each cleaning wheel may be accurately adjusted toward or from its cleaning bed. U The knives 48 of the cleaning wheels project beyond the rear side: of the wheel, that is to say, beyondthe side opposite the feed side, as shown at 4:8. The frame of the machine is formed with aminwardextending flange 49 concentric with. the cleaning bed, the inner edge of saidfiange lying close to the inner edges of the knives.) This flange forms, together with the cleaning bed, a channel through whichathe projecting portions 48 of the knives travel: 'l his flange 49 is substantially equal winlengthto the cleaning'bed. The object of thefiange 49 is to prevent the fibers when agitated by the air set in motion by the rapidly rotating scrapinglwheels, from beingdrawn' inward by the" scraping Wheel 'and becomingentangled in said wheel or caught between the 'wheel and the frame. 3

The operation of the machine may be briefly described as follqwsz -The lei to be operated on is deliveredio the feedwheel 4 by any suitable means. I I moves the leaf forward until l tlie i niddle thereof is engaged by thei carri'eri wheel,6 wh'ah carries it under'the platen segments. e carrier moves the leaf across the face fof tnefirst cleaning wheel the-leaf is cleaned fdraboutone' -half its length As theleayes l twhich are in mesh This te n wheel flee .come in contact with the guide bar 35 bywhich they are guided into engagement with ,the transfer wheel. When the fibers are gripped by the transfer wheel, they are moved over the curved part of the guide bar and delivered to the second carrier wheel,

the uncleaned' portion of the leaf being directed'by the guide 40 onto the bed of the second cleaning wheel The carrier Wheel 7 moves the leaf across the face of this second cleaning wheel, the platens 25 and 25 gripping the cleaned fibers. By this means the entire leaf will be cleaned from end to end, the cleaned fiber being delivered at the rear of the machine. c

' The platen segments are hinged ogether at points directly over the centers of the carrier wheels, and the cleaning wheels are so arranged that the middle of their knives will engage that portion of the leaf in line with the pivot ofthe platen segments. The

platen segments are held on each side of this pivotal point-in order that the portion of the lezif1 directly under said hinge will be firmly he 1 It'willbe readily understood that unless the platen segments are firmly held at their pivotal points and within the vertical plane of'the face of .the cleaning wheel, there will be a tendency for the cleaning wheel to drag the leaf from between the segments and the carrier wheel. This would be so, particularly at the pivotal point,.unless the seg-.

. ments be firmly held. For this reason I arrange the pivot andthe holding springs and bolts as described.

In Fig. 11 a slight modification of the transfer wheel is shown. In this view the wheel 28 isshown as formed in one piece and provided with the grooves 28 to receive the stripper blades 25*.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. A fiber. cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, a series of pressure devicesto hold the plant to be treated against the carrier wheel, said devices being hingedtogether at their adjoining ends and held against movement in the direction of rotation of the carrier wheel, means for yieldingly holding said pressure devices to permit them to move bodily away from the carrier Wheel during the passage of a plant between said devices and the carrier wheel,

a cleaning wheel adapted to engage and clean a portion of a leaf while it is being moved by the carrier wheel, a second carrier wheel, a second pressure device for said carrier wheel, a second cleaning wheel to clean the other portion of the leaf, internal gears formed on the carrier wheels, and intermediate gears carried by the frame and engaging the gears on the carrier wheels, whereby one of said carrier wheels will be driven directly from the other one, and

means for driving one of said carrier wheels.

2. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel for moving the'plant to be cleaned, a cleaning wheel whose axis is parallel with the vertical plane of the carrier wheel, of'a series of non-rotatable platens yieldingly pressed toward said carrier wheel,

said platens bein held against movement in the direction 0 movement of. the carrier carrier wheel, said hinge and said yielding forcing means bein within the vertical I plane of the face of t e cleaning wheel.

3. In a fiber cleaning machine the combination with a movable carrier for moving the lant, of a" series of platen segments loosey hinged together so that each may have a slight movement away from the carrier wheel independent of the connected segments.

4:. In a fiber cleaning machine the combination with a movable carrier for moving the plant to be treated, of a series of platen segments loosely hinged together at their adjoining ends so that each may have a slight movement away from the movable carrier independent of the connected segments, means for holding said segments against movement in the direction of movement of the carrier and a plurality of adjusting devices connected to each platen segment for yieldingly forcing said segment toward the carrier wheel.

5. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, pressure means co-acting with said'wheel, a cleaning wheel, a second carrier wheel arranged ina plane parallel with thefirst carrier wheel and out of alinement. therewith, said carrier wheels overlapping, a pressuremeans co-acting with the said carrier wheel, a yieldingly mounted transfer wheel, -a rigid shoe coiiperatin with said transfer wheel and means for irecting the cleaned fiber from the first cleaning wheel to the transfer wheel and its cooperating shoe, said transfer wheel delivering it to the second carrier wheel.

6. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a .and being hinged together directly over the axis of the carrier wheel, and means for yieldingly forcing said segments toward the carrier wheel, pressure means co-acting' wlth said wheel, a cleaningwheel, a second carrier wheel arranged in a plane parallel with the first carrier wheel and out of alinement therewith, said carrier wheels overlapping, -,-spressure means co-acting with the said car rierwheels, a yieldably mountedtransfer Wheel, a rigid shoe below said vtransfer wheel and cotiperating therewith,means for direct-I" "ingthe. cleaned fiber from the first carrier wheel to the transfer wheel and its cofiperating shoe, said transferewheel delivering it to the second carrier wheel, said transfer wheel being so located that it will engage .the fiber before the leaf is released from the first carrier wheel.

'LA fiber cleaning machine comprising av I carrier wheel, pressure means co-acting with {said wheel,

A I a cleaning wheel, a second carrier wheel arranged 1n a plane parallel with the; first carrier wheel and out fof 'alinenlent therewith, said carrier wheels overlapping,

a pressure means co-acting with the said carrier wheels,'a' yieldably mounted transfer wheel, a rigid guide bar to direct the fiber to the transfer wheel, a rigid. shoe'carv riedby said guide bar directly under the transfer wheel said shoe being curved on its upper surface to correspond with the cir cumfe'rence oflthe transfer wheel,vsaid guide bar and shoe forming a support for said zfiber, said transfer wheel delivering the fiber from the gu ,de bar and shoe to the second have a slight movement away from the carrier wheel independent of the connected segments and adapted to hold the plants to be treated against the carrier wheel, a feed wheel and guide fingers carried-by the forward pressure platen and adapted to extend under the feed wheel, said fingers being curved inclose relation with the feed wheel whereby the leaves to be treated will be delivered under said fingers and thence under j the forward end of platen.

9. ,In a fiber cleaning machine the combination with a movable carrier for moving devices connected to extending around under the said feed wheel- 'and up in front thereof:v and acting to strip the plant to be treated from the feed wheel the plant to be treated, of a series of platen sigments loosely hinged together at their adjoining ends so that each may have a slight movement away I from the movable carrier independently of the connected seg ments, means for holding said segments against movement in the direction of movement of the carrier, a plurality of adjusting each platen segment for yieldingly forcing said segment toward the carrier wheel, a feed wheel adapted to deliver the plant to be treated to the first carrier -W l, forwardly. extending guard fingers 0%f1ected to the forward end of the platen egment adjacent to the feed wheel and in the rear thereof, said guard fingers laten-segmeae; 1

10'; A fiber cleaning.machine comprisinga carrier wheel, a pressureplaten tid -acting with said Wheel, a cleaning wheel adjacent with, means-for directing cleaned fiber from Q the first cleaning wheel to the transfer wheel, said transfer wheel being-adapted to deliver it to the second carrier wheel, and forwardly extending stripper fingers connected to the forward end of the pressure platen over the second cleaningwheel,-and under the transfer wheel so that the fiber will be moved by said transfer wheel between the shoe and the fingers and said stripper fingers being adapted to direct the fiber from the transfer wheel under the pressure platen of the second carrier wheel.

11. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, a pressure platen co-actlng with said wheel, a cleaning wheel adjacent said carrier wheel, a second carrier wheel arranged in a plane parallel with the first carrier Wheel and out of alinement therewith, pressure platens co-acting with saidsecond carrier wheel, a transfer wheelymeans for directing cleaned fiber from the first cleaning wheel to the transfer wheel, said transfer 1 var e1 being adapted to deliver it to the sec+ 0nd carrier wheel,- said transfer wheel being formed with two annular grooves, and for wardly extending stripper fingers connected to the forward end of the pressure platen over the second cleaning wheel, said stripper within the annular grooves inthe transfer wheel and being adapted to direct the fiber from the transfer Wheel under the pressure platen. of the second carrier wheel. I

12. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a movable c'arrier,.a series of platen segments loosely hinged together at their ends, a series of adjustable supporting-devices connected to each of said platen segments, springs for forcing said platen segments toward the carrierwhee-l, a plurality of said supporting devices antl springs being connected to each of said platens, and one of said connecting devices and springs being'arranged on each platen segment near the hinge thereof, the platen segments being formed with radial slots attheir hinge points, whereby each may have a'slight movement away from the carrier wheel independent of the connected segment.

13. In a fiber cleaning machine the-combination with a movable carrier for moving the plant to be treated, and. a cleaning wheel,

of a series of platensegments loosely hinged together at their adjoining ends so that each concentric guide rod supported adjacent to the carrier wheel on the opposite side thereof from the cleaning wheel and adapted to support the unengaged part of the leaf a short distance away from the carrier wheel.

14. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, a pressure platen co-acting with saidwheel, a cleaning. wheel adjacent said carrier wheel, a second carrier Wheel arranged in a plane parallel with the first carrier wheel and out of alinement therewith, pressure 'platens co-acting with said second carrier wheel, a transfer wheel, means for directing cleaned fiber from the first cleaning wheel to the transfer wheel, said transfer wheel being adapted to deliver it to the second carrier wheel, and forwardly extending stripper means connected to the forward end of the pressure platen over the second cleaning wheel, said stripper means being adapted to direct the fiber from the transfer wheel under the pressure platen of the second carrier wheel.

15. A fiber cleaning machine comprising i a carrier wheel, pressure means co-acting w1th said wheel, a cleaning wheel, a second carrier wheel arranged in a plane parallel with the first carrier wheel and out of alinement therewith, said carrier wheels overlapping, a pressure means co-acting with the 1 said second carrier wheel, a yieldablymounted transfer wheel, means for varying the position of the transfer wheel with-respect to the second carrier wheel, and means for directingthe cleaned fiber from the first cleaning wheel to the transfer wheel,'said transfer wheel delivering it to the second carrier wheel.

. 16. .A fiber cleaning machine comprising.

a carrier wheel, a pressure means co-acting with said carrier wheel to hold the leaves while they are being cleaned, a cleaning wheel, knives secured to said cleaning wheel and projecting beyond the rear side thereof,

cleaning bed supported by said frame, and an inwardly extending flange concentric with the cleanlng wheel and carried by said .frame and extending along the inner edges of the projecting portions of the knives, said flange being substantially equal in length to the cleaning bed, for the purpose set forth.

17. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, pressure means co-acting with said wheel to hold the leaves in engagement therewith, a cleaning wheel, a second a frame supporting said cleaning wheel, a,

carrier wheel, a pressure means co-acting with the-said second carrier wheel, a yield-'. ably mounted transfer wheel, a rigid shoe co-acting with said transfer wheel, the wheel and the shoe being correspondingly grooved and'ribbed whereby they will co-act in gripping the fiber and transferring it from one carrier wheel to the other. 4

18; A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel formed with peripheral grooves and ribs, a series of platen sections arranged above the carrier wheel, each section being formed on an arc of a circle struck from the center of the carrier wheel, the face of said platen being ribbed and grooved to receive the correspondingly grooved periphery of the carrier wheel, a second carrier wheel, a second set of platen sections arranged above said second carrier wheel, the said second carrier wheel and its co-acting platens being correspondingly ribbed and grooved, a transfer wheel arranged between the two carrier wheels and formed with peripheral ribs and grooved, means for yieldingly mounting said transfer wheel, and a co-acting shoe below said transfer wheel, said shoe being grooved and ribbed to receive the face of the transfer wheel.

19. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, a non-rotative holding device arranged above said carrier wheel and co-acting therewith, a second carrier wheel, a secondnon-rotative holding device arranged above said second carrier wheel and co-acting therewith, and a transfer ,wheel arranged between said carrier wheels and a co-acting shoe arranged below the transfer wheel, and means for yieldably supporting the transfer wheel.

20. A fiber cleaningmachine comprising a carrier wheel, a series of yieldably mounted vertically-movable platen sections arranged above said-carrier wheel, a series of peripheral-grooves and ribs formed on the face of the carrier wheel, a series of grooves and ribs formed on the working face of the platen sections and intermeshing with the corresponding grooves and ribs on the carrier wheel, a second peripherally grooved and ribbed carrier wheel, a second series of platen sections grooved and ribbed to co-act with the second carrier wheel, a peripherally grooved and ribbed transfer wheel arranged between the two carrier wheels, a correspondingly grooved and ribbed shoe coacting with said transfer wheel, and'xneans for yieldably mounting the transfer wheel.

21. A fiber cleaning machine comprising a carrier wheel, a series of yieldably mounted vertically movable platen sections arranged above said carrier wheel, a series of peripheral grooves and ribs formed on the face of the carrier. wheel, a series of grooves and ribs formed on the working face of the 130 platen sections and inter-meshing with .the

corresponding grooves and ribs on the carrier wheel, a second peripherally grooved and ribbed carrier wheel, a second series of platen sections grooved and ribbed to coact with the second-carrier wheel, a transfer wheel perlpherally grooved and ribbed on its face, a co-acting shoe located below said transfer wheel and correspondingly grooved and ribbed on its working face, and means 10 for yieldably mounting the transfer wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my ANGEL PoNs.

Witnesses:

WM. L. Fox, HOWARD C. Rmn. 

